Monmouthshire, Wales rejects all road speed change requests, sparking public frustration with the 20 mph speed limit.
Monmouthshire council rejected all change requests, even with strong arguments for changes. The council asked for feedback from residents and judged requests by strict Welsh government rules.
Colin Sears thinks the review wasn’t scientific and suspects a blanket decision was made. He agrees with reducing speeds where needed, focusing on schools and care homes instead. He thinks the current system wastes money.
Monmouthshire claims they listened to local views and reviewed 143 roads out of 1,500 requests. They likely rejected changes on non-A or B roads. Welsh rules require speed limits of at least 600 meters, which led to rejection of good proposals.
The council reassessed four Monmouthshire roads: the B4245, Hereford Road, A4143, and A4077. But all four roads remain at 20 mph.
Feedback showed some residents wanted 30 mph. The council deemed requests too specific because the four roads had frequent limit changes. Welsh rules advise against frequent changes, stating the minimum limit length should be 600 meters.
The council cited rule specifics for each rejection, stating that sections shorter than 600 meters did not qualify. This reasoning was used elsewhere in Wales as well. Rules say raising limits to 30 mph is okay with safeguards, including things like safe pedestrian crossings. It can also be acceptable on roads designed for higher speeds.
Carol Bowen believes some limits should revert, particularly near schools and facilities. She worries about problems in other areas and thinks the rejections are financially driven.
A poll showed many in Wales oppose the 20 mph limit. Drivers admit exceeding it often, however, most drivers try to follow speed limits. Some think speeding is widely accepted in the UK and speeding is up on residential streets.
Owen Lewis feels safer as a pedestrian and supports the 20 mph limits. He wonders why people want faster roads, stating safer roads benefit everyone.
Welsh data show fewer road deaths after the change. Casualties dropped on 20 and 30 mph roads, and the recent quarter had the fewest casualties on record.
Adrian Hussey supports the 20 mph plan, noting that most drivers still exceed that speed. He said if people now drive slower, that is still a good thing. He likes that Monmouthshire will not reverse the change.